CocktailsandMovies.com Whaddya Got On Tap? – Week of 04/20/17

by Tim Barley, Mike Reyes, & Duwayne Tso

April’s almost over, and the big guns are coming out to play.

No, it’s not time for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 just yet, (Cocktails and Movies’s first May event is just two short weeks away at the TCL Chinese Theater), but April is looking to help rev the box office up a little more before going full throttle at the beginning of Marvel-ous May. Still, this week’s picks aren’t anything to sneeze at, as everything from lovely baby animals to bitchy throwdowns with or without firearms are on the menu. But even with five new releases, who’s going to even come close to outrunning Dominic Toretto and his family?

Well, that’s what we’re about to find out, as we run down this weekend’s runners and riders!

Official Synopsis:Venturing into the wilds of China, “Born in China” captures intimate moments with a panda bear and her growing cub, a young golden monkey who feels displaced by his baby sister, and a mother snow leopard struggling to raise her two cubs.

CocktailsandMovies.com’s Take:Everyone can use some cute animals in their lives. And with the World Wildlife Federation getting money from the opening weekend’s grosses, it’s an easy endorsement. Unless you’re not into baby pandas.

Official Synopsis:20 years after three teenagers disappeared in the wake of mysterious lights appearing above Phoenix, Arizona, unseen footage from that night has been discovered, chronicling the final hours of their fateful expedition.

CocktailsandMovies.com’s Take:Honestly, this stealthy entry evaded our radar, but watching the trailer kind of convinces us that we weren’t missing anything in the first place.

Official Synopsis:Set during the last days of the Ottoman Empire, The Promise follows a love triangle between Michael, a brilliant medical student, the beautiful and sophisticated Ana, and Chris – a renowned American journalist based in Paris.

CocktailsandMovies.com’s Take:You had us at Oscar Issac and Christian Bale.

Official Synopsis:A woman sets out to make life hell for her ex-husband’s new wife.

CocktailsandMovies.com’s Take:This looks absolutely trashy, but if Heigl can turn on the crazy, it will have been worth it.

― C & M ―

Duwayne’s Pick:Free Fire! It was a pretty easy choice for me this week because I love gun battles! Not only are we having a big gun fight but there is a pretty good cast that should inject some humor into the deadly situation.

Mike’s Pick: Honestly, I was a little disappointed in Free Fire, and I’ll explain why once I’ve caught up with my reviews. That said, it’s still a fun flick I’ll have no problem revisiting, just to make sure I’m absolutely right about my opinions. That said, I’m definitely seeing Born In China, and all but Phoenix Forgotten seem to actually pack some curious interest for me.

Tim’s Pick: Honestly, as the boss, I’m putting the final touches on the event for Guardians of the Galaxy 2 in May. BUT, Free Fire looks interesting…

― C & M ―

The Weekend Top Five:

1. Fate of the Furious – no doubt about this one, not one of the new movies comes close
Estimated Weekend: $52 million

2. Unforgettable – never underestimate the attraction of trashy story lines
Estimated Weekend: $22 million

3. The Promise– the only other new opener to get to the top
Estimated Weekend: $17 million

Think you can do better? Is there anything you’d like to see each Friday from our WGOT session? Restaurant reviews? Specials at your local theater or bar/restaurant? Maybe a cocktail suggestion or two? LET US KNOW AT INFO@COCKTAILSANDMOVIES.COM

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We’ll see you around over the weekend, but until then make sure to treat your films and your drinks with equal responsibility. Skip the bad movies, and know when to say “No” to that refill! Though calling an Uber or Lyft is always an option as well!